The Bodhicaryavatara

Synopsis

Written in india in the early 8th century ad, 's=antideva's bodhicary=avat=ara addresses the profound desire to become a buddha and rescue all beings from suffering. The person who acts upon such a desire is a bodhisattva. 's=antideva not only makes plain what the bodhisattva must do and become, he also invokes the powerful feelings of aspiration that underlie such a commitment, employing language which has inspired buddists ever since it first appeared. Indeed, his book has long been regarded as one of the most popular accounts of the buddhist's spiritual path.